Share Capital contribution is released to the State Scheduled Castes Development Corporations (SCDCs) under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in the ratio of 49:51 between Central Government and State Governments. There are in total 27 such State-level Corporations which are working for the economic development of Scheduled Castes, although some of these Corporations are also catering to the requirements of other weaker sections of the Society, e.g. Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, Minorities etc.

Functions

The main functions of SCDCs include identification of eligible SC families and motivating them to undertake economic development schemes, sponsoring the schemes to financial institutions for credit support, providing financial assistance in the form of the margin money at a low rate of interest, providing subsidy out of the funds made available to the States under the Scheme of Special Central Assistance to Special Component Plan of the States to reduce the repayment liability and providing necessary tie up with other poverty alleviation programmes. For facilitating loans to Scheduled Castes, the SCDCs tie up with the local banks, National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC). Thus the SCDCs are playing an important role in providing credit and missing inputs by way of margin money loans and subsidy to the target group.

Schemes

The SCDCs finance the employment oriented schemes covering diverse areas of economic activities which inter-alia include (i) agriculture and allied activities including minor irrigation (ii) small scale industry (iii) transport and (iv) trade and service sector.

Share Capital and Coverage

Share capital assistance provided to the SCDCs under the scheme during the last five years and the number of beneficiaries covered are given below: -

Year

Plan Outlay

(Rs.in Crores)

Share Capital Released

(Rs.in Crores)

Beneficiaries

(in lakh)

2011-12

20.00

20.00

12.35

2012-13

20.00 (BE)

05.00 (RE)

5.00

2.49

2013-14

20.00

20.00

1.45

2014-15

20.00

20.00

1.55

2015-16

20.00

20.00

0.99

2016-17

20.00

20.00

NR*

*Not Reported

The Schemes has been revised from 2009-10 for long-term viability and sustainability of State level Scheduled Development Corporation by provision of incentives to the SCDC to improve their recoveries.